Water cooler



Nov. 29, 1932. A. D. OLDS WATER COOLER Filed July 10. 1951 Patented Nov. 29, 1932 UNITED STATES WATER Application filed July 10,

My invention relates to water coolers.

In certain apparatus, such as water coolers and the like, in which a cold water pipe extends through a wall, the conduction of heat from the wall reduces the temperature of a large area of the wall about the pipe below the dew point of the surrounding air so that moisture condenses on the wall, resulting in deterioration or corrosion of the wall and dripping of water which is objectionable.

The object of my invention is to provide a closure between the pipe and the wall in such manner that substantially no heat is conducted from the wall to the pipe and objectionable condensation of moisture on the wall is avoided. I accomplish this by providing a material of high thermal resistance between a pipe and a wall through which the pipe extends to form a closure between them.

The features of my invention which are believed to be patentable will be hereinafter pointed out in the claims. For a better understanding of my invention reference 1s made in the following description to the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is an elevation view, partly broken away, of a water cooler embodying my invention, and Fig. 2 is a sectional perspective View of part of the construction shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, I have shown my invention in connection with a water cooler having a cooling unit 1 for cooling wa ter which is supplied from any suitable source of water under pressure, such as a Water main, and arranged to be supported within an enclosing shell 2 and insulated therefrom as indicated at 3. Any suitable arrangement, such, as an electric refrigerating machine or the like, can be used for cooling the unit 1. The water cooled in the unit 1 is supplied to a nozzle 4 within a cup 5 through an outlet pipe 6 extendmg through an opening in the side wall 7 of the shell, and the flow of water is controlled by a valve 8. The waste water from the nozzle 4 flows from the cup 5 through a. drain pipe 9 projecting through the opening in the side wall 7 of the shell, and extending downwardly therein and through an opening 10 in a bottom wall 10 of the shell where a suitable con- PAT E-NT OFFICE TO EDISON GENERAL ELECTRIC CORPORATION OF NEW YORK COOLER 1931. Serial No. 549,962.

/ motion is made for carrying away the water.

In accordance with my invention a material of high thermal resistance as compared with that of the outer walls of the water cooler is provided to form, a closure between each of the pipes 6 and 9 and the outer walls of the water cooler through which the pipes extend, so that the cold pipes'do not cool the walls below thedew point of the surroundmg air, thus avoiding condensation of moisture on the walls and deterioration or corrosion of the walls and dripping of water. Referringto the closure formed between the drain pipe 9 and the bottom wall 10, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, I prefer to use a corrugated disk 11 of material of substantially high thermal resistance, such as Monel metal or the like, having a central opening through which a threaded portion 12 of the drain pipe 9 extends, the disk being attached to the wall 10 by soldering, as indicated at 13, and attached to the pipe 9 by washers 14 and 15 secured on each side of the disk by a fitting 16 and a nut 17.

The single opening in the side wall 7 through which the pipes 6 and 9 extend is also provided with a disk 18 of material of high thermal resistance, and is attached to the pipes and wall in a manner similar to the closure formed at the bottom wall of the shell. H

By this construction substantially air-tight seals are formed to prevent moisture from getting into the insulation, and the thin fiat strips of material of high thermal resistance about the pipes substantially prevent any flow of heat from the walls of the shell to the cold water pipes. I thus avoid the condensation of moisture in the walls of the shell and resulting deterioration or corrosion of the walls and dripping of water.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. A water cooler including a cooling unit and an outer enclosing metal shell thermally insulated therefrom, a cold water pipe extending from said cooling unit through an opening in a wall of said, shell, and means for substantially preventing the flow of heat from said shell to said water pipe, said means including a thin flat strip of material of high fol) thermal resistance attached to the wall and to said pipe for forming a closure between them.

2. A water cooler including a cooling unit and an outer enclosing metal shell thermally insulated therefrom, a cold water pipe extendingfroni said cooling unit through an opening in a wall of said shell, and means for substantially preventing the flow of heat from said shell tosaid water pipe, said means including a corrugated strip of metal of high thermal resistance between the wall and saidv pipe and joined thereto for forming a closure between them.

3. A liquid cooler including a cooling unit and an enclosing-metallic shell thermally insulatedtherefrom, said metallic shell having anopening therein, a conduit for cooled liquid extending from said cooling unit through the opening in said-metallic shell, and metal lic sealing means between said shell and said conduit, saidsealing means including a diaphragm constructed, ofainetal having a substantially greater thermal resistance than the said metallic shell.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

AMBROSE D. OLDS. 

